4 Exercises for Strengthening the Bottom of Your Squat

If you frequently get stuck at the bottom of heavy squats, it’s time to tackle your sticking points. Below are four exercises you can add to your training to strengthen the bottom of your squat and start moving heavier weight.

Note: these exercises should be used in addition to your regular front and back squats.

Train the most difficult part of your squat with the pin squat. You’ll start the lift at your sticking point, with the bar resting on the pins.

How it Works

The pin squat starts from a dead stop at the bottom of the range you’re training and can be performed as either front or back squats. You should lift lighter weights than you would typically use for a set of full squats.

To set up, perform some full range of motion weighted squats (front or back, whichever you’re training) and pay attention to the height of the bar in relation to the squat rack when you’re at the bottom of the lift.

Re-rack the barbell and set up the pins in the rig at the bottom height you gauged in the previous step.

Place the barbell on the pins (or squat the barbell down to the pins).

To perform the lift, arrange yourself in the bottom of a squat, set up the barbell in either the front rack or back position, inhale, brace your back and torso and rise forcefully from the bottom of your squat.

Squat back down to the starting position, returning the barbell to rest on the pins.

2. Pause Squats

Similar to pin squats, pause squats remove the stretch reflex and force you to recruit more muscle involvement as you drive upward. The pause can be implemented at any point of the squat, but for strengthening the bottom, you should pause at the bottom. Be sure to warm up first and squat with a lighter weight than you would use for normal squats.

How it Works

After loading the barbell to the front rack, back, or overhead position, drop into the bottom of your squat and pause for 1-5 seconds.

Be sure to keep your core and back engaged the whole time — no relaxing in the hole.

As with the pin squat, focus on driving upward with as much force as possible. Maintaining core tension throughout the movement is key to performing the movement properly and without injury. Pause squats not only strengthen your ability to get out of the hole, but they can also increase mobility and improve stability in the catch of the clean or snatch.

3. Pistols

Also known as one-legged squats, pistols challenge strength, balance, and mobility and often involve a greater range of motion than other squats. If your pistols are high-quality and don’t require you to bounce yourself out of the hole, you can use them to strengthen the bottom of your squatone side at a time. If you have significant muscle imbalances between your left and right legs, the pistol is also an ideal movement for tackling those.

How it Works

Standing on one leg with your toes pointing forward, hold your other leg out in front of you and lower into the bottom of a squat. Make sure your active knee doesn’t cave inward.

Once you reach the bottom, drive yourself upward, maintaining balance and control the whole way.

Switch legs and repeat the movement.

4. Pause Jump Squats

Similar to the pause squat, the pause jump squat forces you to come out of the hole without the help of the stretch reflex, but it more greatly emphasizes explosiveness. It can be done with or without additional weight.

How it Works

After warming up, sit back into the bottom of a squat and pause for 1-3 seconds.

Explode upward, jumping as high as you can.

Land softly and return to the squat position. Pause for another 1-3 seconds and repeat.

The pause jump squatstrengthens explosiveness out of the hole, which translates to stronger overall squats. It can also improve squat form, because in the process of jumping, your body works to stay as vertical as possible. The pause jump squat can be added toburpees for an additional workout challenge.

Have your squats plateaued? We can help! Check out our squat program — gains are around the corner.